5 Burning Questions Ahead Of ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks Vs. Balart On August 2
This Friday, August 2, ONE Championship will return with a U.S. primetime fight card that’s packed with high-stakes matchups and compelling storylines.
Topped by a pair of must-watch World Title bouts, ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video features a full spectrum of four different combat sports disciplines and a number of the planet’s top martial artists.
With plenty of gold on the line and hungry contenders looking to make their marks on the global stage, we now turn to five critical questions that will be answered at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
#1 Can Gustavo Balart Upset The Former Strawweight MMA King?
The main event will see former undisputed strawweight MMA titleholder Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks battle Cuban powerhouse Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart for the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title.
The outspoken American lost the World Title in March at ONE 166: Qatar, suffering a disappointing disqualification against rival Joshua “The Passion” Pacio. The #1-ranked contender will now look to claim the interim gold and earn another shot at Pacio – but standing in his way is #3-ranked Balart.
A former Olympic wrestler from Cuba with dynamite in his hands, “El Gladiador” has all the skills and confidence to hand Brooks a stunning loss – and this Friday, he has an opportunity to prove it.
#2 Can Danielle Kelly Defend Her Gold Against The Toughest Foe Of Her Career?
In the co-main event, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight Submission Grappling World Champion Danielle Kelly will defend her belt for the first time when she locks horns with decorated nine-time IBJJF World Champion Mayssa Bastos.
The American BJJ standout is undefeated across four thrilling matches in ONE, but she’s in for her stiffest test yet against Bastos.
The Brazilian is widely recognized as the sport’s greatest ever in the lightest weight classes and is perhaps the best pound-for-pound technician in jiu-jitsu history.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Kelly understands the tall task ahead of her but is planning to meet Bastos head-on and further cement herself as the best atomweight grappler in the world.
#3 Will Nabil Anane Break Into The Top-Five Rankings?
In bantamweight Muay Thai action, towering 20-year-old phenom Nabil Anane will square off with former two-time ONE World Title challenger Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo.
For the Thai-Algerian rising star, this showdown will be his chance to extend a three-fight winning streak and potentially grab his foe’s #3 spot in the talent-rich bantamweight Muay Thai rankings.
As the youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai World Champion and the owner of two highlight-reel finishes against top talent in ONE, Anane is undeniably a world-class striker.
But to prove he belongs among the division’s upper echelon, he’ll need to get past the hard-hitting Lobo.
#4 Which New Top Contenders Will Emerge?
The rest of the card is loaded with pivotal contests that could produce stand-out contenders.
Fresh off a main event victory at ONE Fight Night 18, #5-ranked featherweight MMA contender Shamil “The Cobra” Gasanov hopes to employ his crushing ground game and submission attacks to finish well-rounded Ecuadorian Aaron “Tommy Gun” Canarte.
If he can do that, the Dagestani destroyer will further establish himself as a serious threat in the division – and perhaps earn a highly ranked contender next.
In an exciting flyweight kickboxing matchup, #3-ranked contender Taiki “Silent Sniper” Naito will test his blazing speed and expert timing against the dynamic kicking game of #5-ranked contender Elias “The Sniper” Mahmoudi.
Stylistically, that contest promises fireworks for as long as it lasts, but it could also produce the next challenger for reigning titleholder Superlek Kiatmoo9.
Finally, fans won’t want to miss the card’s opener, as surging Hong Kong phenom Yu Yau Pui aims to keep rising when she battles three-time UK Muay Thai Fighter of the Year Amy Pirnie in an atomweight Muay Thai tilt.
A wildly entertaining brawler with a fearless approach to combat, Yu comes into the bout following a three-round destruction of former ONE World Title challenger Lara Fernandez.
With a dominant 6-0 record in ONE, she could be next in line for a shot at gold if she remains unbeaten.
#5 Can Carlo Bumina-ang Earn Redemption For Team Lakay?
Undefeated Filipino phenom Carlo “The Bull” Bumina-ang is undoubtedly hungry to impress in his U.S. primetime debut, and he’s sure to carry a little extra motivation against Mongolian veteran Enkh-Orgil “The Tormentor” Baatarkhuu in their bantamweight MMA scrap.
That’s because Baatarkhuu, with his vicious clinch game and endless cardio, boasts a trio of wins over Filipino fighters – including two against Bumina-ang’s Team Lakay training partners.
“The Bull” largely dominated the competition at ONE Friday Fights to earn a coveted six-figure contract with the global roster. He could bolster his meteoric ascent and earn revenge for Team Lakay by finishing the notoriously tough Mongolian.
